Chapter Twenty-Three: A Complete Mess

When Bai Yang saw her expression, Yu Tang slowly revealed a meme-worthy look, barely suppressing her laughter. In truth, she had only just found out herself.

Originally, she was in the room with Xie Yi, and they were on the verge of playing a blindfolded tag game. But the mechanical voice interrupted again.

"Dear host, congratulations on triggering a hidden mission."
"The world’s heroine Xiang Youran and the supporting character Zhou Ziheng have been poisoned with diarrhea from eating undercooked green beans."
"Please find a way to get both of them to the hospital."
"Mission reward: exceptional balance."

When Yu Tang heard what the reward was, she felt something was off. Based on her understanding of the system’s quirks, this seemingly useless reward would surely have a major use later. So she immediately abandoned the blindfolded Xie Yi and rushed over. Who knows how Xie Yi is doing now? Yu Tang worried.

Meanwhile, Xie Yi, whom Yu Tang was thinking of, stood in the middle of the room, blindfolded, shyly smiling, unable to suppress the sweetness on his face. After waiting for ages without hearing anything, the smile froze. An uneasy premonition flitted through his heart, and he pulled off the thin gauze covering his eyes. As his vision cleared and he saw the empty room, his face instantly chilled. He tossed the gauze aside, took a look around to be sure no one was there, and strode out of Yu Tang’s room.

Well done, she played him for a fool.

Back in the director’s lounge, Bai Yang was nervous. “How did you know?” Yu Tang blinked, her face stiffening—she’d been so focused on rushing over, she’d forgotten to come up with a good excuse. Under Bai Yang’s gaze, Yu Tang grew more guilty, subconsciously licking her lips. Her actor’s professionalism at least made her look calm.

“Oh… it’s because…”

Yu Tang was just about to improvise a reason when a commotion outside interrupted her. The filming director burst in, lugging an Italian camera, frantic.

“It’s ruined, director, everything’s ruined!”

Bai Yang shot a dagger glare.

“Ruined? What’s ruined? Don’t say such ill-omened things!”

The filming director quickly took back his words, agreeing, “Alright, then it’s not ruined.”

Bai Yang’s expression softened, but only for a moment before his brows knit again. Why did this scene feel so familiar?

“Well, what happened?”

“Teacher Zhou seems to have eaten something bad. He’s so dehydrated from diarrhea now.” The filming director rubbed his nose, speaking honestly.

Bai Yang’s eyes widened. “Zhou Ziheng?!”

The moment he finished, Bai Yang shot out like the wind. Zhou Ziheng was the young master of Stardust Entertainment, and they’d specifically instructed them to take good care of him. If something happened to this young master, Bai Yang truly couldn’t explain himself.

He dashed out the door and immediately collided with something warm, spinning dizzyingly before falling to the ground.

Lu Zhiming silently looked at his empty hands, then at the director and Zhou Ziheng on the floor. He quietly took a step back. This wasn’t his fault—please don’t blame him. That step brought him right next to Yu Tang. From the camera’s perspective, the two standing together looked like a perfect match: talented man, beautiful woman.

Lu Zhiming turned and saw Yu Tang smiling at him. Her face was bright and sweet, but the smile was oddly unsettling.

“Wh…what’s wrong?” Lu Zhiming touched his nose, inexplicably uneasy.

Yu Tang curled her lips into a mischievous grin, then changed her expression in an instant. “What’s wrong? You stepped on my foot, that’s what’s wrong!”

“You’ve got eggs hanging under your brows, but can’t see with your eyes? I’m standing right here, clear as day, and you just stepped right on me?”

Lu Zhiming looked down, belatedly taking another step back. “Sorry, that’s my fault.”

Seeing that Lu Zhiming’s attitude was at least gentlemanly, Yu Tang snorted coldly but said no more.

On the other side, Bai Yang realized it was Zhou Ziheng he’d crashed into and jumped in fright. Ignoring the pain in his twisted waist, he quickly helped Zhou Ziheng up.

“Pfft, pfft—”

Unable to hold back, Zhou Ziheng let out two more farts.

Bai Yang caught the smell and instinctively loosened his grip on Zhou Ziheng’s hand.

“Ahem…”

Zhou Ziheng lost his support and fell again.

Bai Yang’s pupils widened as he hesitated to approach, but the air was thick with the unpleasant odor.

Just then, Shen Tianshi hurried in.

“Ahem, what’s that smell? Zhou Ziheng, did you shit on the floor?”

Shen Tianshi mocked without restraint.

Zhou Ziheng’s face was grim, and he gave up all pretense. “It’s not like I can control it.”

[I was wondering what happened, everyone’s face looked so awful—turns out Zhou Ziheng had an accident?]

[This is hilarious, Bai Yang looks shattered, someone save him.]

[To be fair, Bai Yang still looks charming (slurp slurp).]

[Shen Tianshi has no filter, he just says anything.]

[Yu Tang is fierce…]

[Let’s not blame Yu Tang now, she really suffered pain most people couldn’t bear. Lu Zhiming must be heavy as hell.]

Bai Yang saw Zhou Ziheng and Shen Tianshi about to argue, and hurriedly, supporting his injured waist, walked between them.

“Alright, alright! Stop arguing!”

Shen Tianshi gave Bai Yang some face, snorting and turning his head away, saying nothing more.

“What did you come to see me for?” Bai Yang looked at Shen Tianshi, headache mounting.

This was the director’s lounge—guests rarely came here unless something was wrong, and Shen Tianshi was always the one with the most issues.

Shen Tianshi heard the question but ignored it, his gaze shifting to Yu Tang nearby. He’d tried to find Yu Tang first, but had run into her trailing director on the way and learned she wasn’t in her room. So he followed the director over.

He pouted, speaking like a child. “Yu Tang~ I need to go to the hospital. My stomach hurts, and I feel like vomiting.”

“If I don’t get to the hospital soon, I think I’ll get a fever~”

Shen Tianshi’s face was unusually flushed, looking utterly aggrieved.

Bai Yang’s brows twitched again. What now? Two people in trouble—was he really going to be ruined today?

Yu Tang, arms folded, had been watching the spectacle. Hearing this, her extraordinary sixth sense told her something was definitely wrong.

Zhou Ziheng and Xiang Youran both had issues, but now even Shen Tianshi…

Yu Tang bowed her head in thought, then as if struck by an idea, her face took on an indescribable expression. “Did you… eat undercooked green beans?”

The plate of glossy green beans Shen Tianshi and the others had stir-fried surely wasn’t cooked through.

Shen Tianshi pursed his lips, red-eyed, went over and tugged Yu Tang’s sleeve. “I don’t know, I just feel awful.”

He bent down and gently rested his head on Yu Tang’s shoulder.

One had to admit, Shen Tianshi was foolish but undeniably beautiful. With his reddened eyes exuding a sense of fragility, Yu Tang truly found it hard to resist.

She sighed, reaching out to softly pat Shen Tianshi’s fluffy head.

“Be good, bear with it a bit longer. The ambulance is already on its way. You’ll feel better soon.”

Shen Tianshi nodded pitiably. “Mm…”